2004 Toyota Avalon Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2004 Avalon most often write about supplemental restraint problems — an air bag warning light that comes on and stays on or flashes, and occasional reports of air bags not deploying in a crash — plus long waits for recall parts. A second theme is steering that suddenly becomes hard to turn, sometimes after the steering column recall work, and a third is sudden, unintended acceleration while maneuvering at low speed or pulling into a parking space.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light on; air bags not deploying

   Mentioned in 22 of 60 sampled complaints

   The most common report is an SRS or air bag warning light that comes on intermittently or stays lit, sometimes after a sensor reset or a repair attempt. Some owners say the dealer replaced wires, a sensor module or a seat, and the light returned. Several complaints describe collisions in which the air bags did not deploy, and owners often link those to the earlier warning light. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well past 200,000, with many in the 70,000-150,000 range.

   Recall 15V0430002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that the air bag warning light does not stay lit after the self-test at startup, and scan for stored SRS codes rather than judging by the light alone. Ask for paperwork showing which air bag recalls (14V147 and 15V043) have been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As a school bus approached, I moved over slightly to the right to give it more room. Unexpectedly, the car accelerated and I hit a tree on the right side of the road. It did not occur to me at the time of the accident that the 2004 Avalon xls had sped up. That had occurred twice before while driving. I suffered a slight chip in my left ankle bone.”

   NHTSA complaint #10310754, filed 2010-02, 50,000 miles

   “Takata recall I was notified in january 2015 of additional recall by Toyota. The eog work was done previously. Now the airbag light intermittently goes on and off when traveling with a front seat passenger only. The light does not go on when driven by just the driver and no front passenger. My wife will no longer ride in the vehicle out of fear of air bag deploying. Have heard nothing from Toyota instructing us to bring vehicle to dealer for recall work. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10816525, filed 2015-12, 43,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Recall parts unavailable; repair delayed

   • 74 complaints (36%)
   • median 113,716 mi at 11.3 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2019

   A large share of complaints are about the recall remedy rather than a new failure: owners received notice about the SRS electronic control module or air bag inflator campaign, then were told parts were on back order for months. Some say an interim remedy was done and the warning light came back on, and others describe repeated calls to the dealer and manufacturer without a repair date. Mostly described in complaints filed in 2014 through 2018 about vehicles of this age, with waits of months to over two years after notice.

   Recall 15V0430002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Before buying, confirm any open air bag campaigns are closed by checking the recall status with a dealer using the VIN, and get written proof of completed remedies.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received a recall notification in march, 2014 from Toyota that my air bags may deploy at any time. I have made monthly calls to the local dealer and Toyota about when it can be repaired. Six months later, they still do not have an answer. Just how long is it before there is a solution and it is available? Is my car suppose to sit in the drive way or do I just feel lucky and drive the car, which involves interstate driving at times?”

   NHTSA complaint #10630717, filed 2014-09, 64,000 miles

   “I received a letter from Toyota in march 2014 notifying me of a safety recall involving the electronic control module for the supplemental restraint system. I took the vehicle to the local dealer to have the remedy installed, which they did. In approximately february of 2015 (six months ago) I received a second letter informing me that the original remedy is not sufficient, that the srs ecu must also be replaced and I would receive notification when the parts were available to correct the problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10759526, filed 2015-08, 118,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration at low speed

   Mentioned in 14 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the car surging forward or backward while parking, backing out of a driveway or shifting from neutral into drive, often with the brake applied. Many describe striking a parked car, a garage or a building, and in several cases dealerships said they could not reproduce the condition or found no fault with the vehicle. Reported from very low mileage up to about 140,000 miles, and in several cases within the first few thousand miles.

   What to check: Drive the car at parking-lot speeds, including reverse and the neutral-to-drive shift, and check that pedal feel and engine idle are normal. Ask whether the throttle body and pedal were ever inspected or cleaned.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was alone in the car and had driven into my driveway (after opening the garage door) to enter the garage. The car suddenly took off and before I knew, I had crashed into the side of the garage and went through it. The car smashed into gardening tools, snow shovels, lawn mower, leaf blower, trash cans, and flowering pots. It came to a stop partly by the coat closet wall that protrudes into the garage and partly by all the stuff that got caught under the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10577514, filed 2014-04, 76,011 miles

   “Having traveled up a steep road, I proceeded to turn into an acquaintance's driveway. I began to apply the brake as I came to park behind her vehicle. Suddenly without warning, my 2004 Toyota Avalon surged ahead and crashed into her parked vehicle causing my front bumper to go under the back of her 2004 sebring convertible lifting it up off the ground. The air bags did not deploy. I called my Toyota dealer and they suggested I not drive it (I was to go out of town for the memorial day weekend). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10125733, filed 2005-06, 9,317 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering suddenly hard to turn or stiff

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the steering wheel becoming very hard to turn, sometimes periodically and sometimes permanently, and in some cases a pounding noise or fluid loss from the rack area. Several complaints describe repeated dealer visits with no fault found, or replacement of a steering shaft or column part that did not resolve the stiffness. Some mention this starting after steering column recall work was performed. Usually reported between roughly 20,000 and 120,000 miles, with several in the 20,000-75,000 range.

   Recall 10V345000

   What to check: Test the steering through full lock at low speed and listen for noise or binding, check power steering fluid level and look for leaks at the rack, and ask whether the steering column lock bar recall (10V345) was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Toyota dealer in merritt island, fl advised me power steering rack is leaking... 2-2-2012 my son in has a Toyota 2005 sienna in annapolis, md was advised that his power steering rack was leaking. 7-17-2012 a friend with a Toyota camry in bowie, md was advised that his power steering rack is leaking.”

   NHTSA complaint #10466277, filed 2012-07, 80,146 miles

   “In december, I took my 2004 Avalon to the dealership for the steering column bracket recall. Shortly after, I returned to the dealership complaining about my odd steering. I could feel the steering stiffen, then return to normal, then back to stiffening. The dealership had the car for a day to check out the steering which they couldn't find anything wrong with it. Now, my steering is stiff all of the time. I am afraid to drive the car. It is not safe to be on the road. In researching I have not found a recall for this problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10393049, filed 2011-03, 75,000 miles

Buying note. Check the air bag recall status by VIN and verify the warning light behaves correctly, and budget for steering or throttle diagnosis on a car this age. A pre-purchase inspection that scans for stored SRS and steering codes is worthwhile.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.